Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 1 August 2025 (HL9721), what has been the outcome of the research they commissioned from Resource Futures on the number of vessels reaching end-of-life and the policy options to reduce the issue of marine litter from abandoned vessels; and what action they intend to take in response to this research.

The Government welcomes the research from Resource Futures and recognises the importance of reducing marine litter from abandoned vessels.

Drawing on this research, the UK has led work with other countries in the North East Atlantic as part of the OSPAR Convention to develop best practice guidance on the prevention, reporting, and management of end-of-life recreational vessels. This will now be discussed by OSPAR contracting parties and, if it is agreed, will be published this summer and made available for use by practitioners and policymakers globally.

The Government will consider next steps for how this guidance is implemented nationally.